The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-10-08

was borne on hurdles.
When the men saw me they stopped, and
questioned tho hostess suspiciously. A few
words sufficed to satisfy them, and they
proceeded to make themselves at home. A
heap OF peat that stood beside the hearth
was thrown upon the fire, and bright
blaze soon danced in the chimney, and lit
up the forms Of the men, who, crowded as
closely MS possible, sat or lay around the
fire. The woman Of the house was activity
itself. She filled large pot with potatoes,
and SGT them to cook, afterwards spreading
on. a table her little store nj eatables. Then
she attended to the person who was injured.
He was low-sized, slender lad Of fourteen
or fifteen, who now lay on the only bed OF
which the cottage boasted. His face was
pale, and his features were distorted in an
effort to suppress the cry Of agony that rose
to his lips. The lads pain arose from
sprained ankle; and when the foot was re-
lieved from the pressure OF the boot and
wrapped in wet flannels, the boy uttered
sigh of relief
The majority were q rough, wild lot; but
/ was interested by their chief and by this
hoy. The former sat apart, his dark, hand
some face wrapped in gloom, his hands toy
ing with the knot Of his sash, while he
looked thoughtfully at the ground. The
boy was apparently ignorant Of the oaths
and jcsts around him; eye and ear were on
the alert, his glance being fixed on the
window, through which he commanded n
view Of the high grounds outside.
soon found that 1 was the subject OF
conversation between two or three OF the
party, one Of them, tall, burly, black
browed ruffian cycling me in no friendly
manner. "Where may you be from,
strangeri" he asked
London" replied briefly.
~ told you so," he said, turning to his
comrades. 81 knew he was a Sassenach,
an curse me IL he stays under the same
roof as usl'
"You're right, be jabersr' cried another.
Gwen have no Saxon spies here"
must own to having felt uncomfortable,
and l said in as conciliatory tone as pos
sible "Gentlemen, If my presence is OBJ
jectionable, shall leave"
"How polite you are" said the first
speaker, with an oath. Lave you go and
tell where we've gomez Not likely. Look
here, boys; suppose we tie him up and
throw him into the pigstyl 1t will be good
enough lodgings for the English baste."
Isprang to my feet, seeing the fellows
about to carry out the proposal; and fear
ing that their violence might proceed to
fatal lengths, snatched up sword that
one OF them had laid aside, and said that
whoever approached me would do so at his
own risk.
The leading ruffian grinned, and quietly
pointing musket at me. said: "Put down
that sword before l say three One, two
slower your weapon, sir!" came like
trumpet blast from the corner where their
Chipf ant TTr, m that hn oaemod
ignorant of what passed around, but he now
stood erect, his eyes flashing Indignantly.
''Leave that man alone" he continued; "we
are not murderers."
80, begorra" the other replied, ''we're
all captains now, an there's no masther
here" He again pointed his gun at me.
which he had for q moment lowered.
'You scoundrel," the leader replied,
''you'll be in the dock soon, and will have
enough to answer for without adding to it
the blood of an innocent man."
The eyes of all were fixed on my assail-
ant Those who formerly encouraged him,
less ruffianly or less daring, fell back on
hearing their captains voice; but this one
appeared quite unmoved The woman OF
the house sat in n corner, her apron thrown
over her head, in order to shut out the
bloody scene that was, she believed, immi-
nent. The lad looked on with dilated eyes,
his lips parted, and his breathing almost
suspended. l mechanically clutched the
sword, and kept my eyes fastened on the
trigger OF the musket, VIII ich the mans
finger pressed.
"Put down the sword" he repea ted, in q
low. hoarse voice. "One-two'-
1 closed my eyes and muttered prayer
For an instant hesitated whether to COM
ply or to make dash for the door. A loud
report nearly deafened me; there was a
scream; and on opening my eyes, saw my
assailant dancing about the room, swear
ing furiously, and nursing his right hand,
from which blood poured. The leader stood
looking sternly at his wounded follower;
and the sight of u revolver, still smoking,
in his hand told me to whom owed my
life. There was not murmer heard, even
the ruffian whose murdcrous designs were
frustrated after the first outburst, writhcd
in silence.
''My good woman" said the chief calmly
''perhaps you will be kind enough to give
that rascal some old linen and help him to
bandage his hand"
While my hostess was engaged on this
task, two Of the men who had been placed
as sentinels outside rushed in. "The red
coats are comin'!" they cried. ''There's
Cavalry tuCre LOU, III SOulo U uue DOyS are
runnin' this way"
In an instant all was wild confusion.
With q cry Of alarm, my would. be murderer
fled, completing the wrapping of his
wounded limb while running. He was
followed by several others. "Strain the
pratiesv cried some of those who re.
manned; and before many seconds, the
huge pot was taken from the fire, the water
drained Off and the half-cooked potatoes
divided among the hungry rebels, who
thrust them into their pockets and hats,
burning their hands, and dancing with pain.
The chief was the last to leave the house,
after committing the boy to the woman's
charge. While he divested himself of his
plume and sash, and put on a large over.
coat that one of his followers left behind; ]
| my behalf.
"Pray, do not mention it," he said with Q
pleasant smile. Had stood by quietly,
should have been as great villain as the
| other. Farewelr'
The lad was terribly frightened. "Ohr'
| he sobbed, ''if could only run! But
can't, an they'll ketch me an hang me-"
My hostess was hardly recovered from
the stupor into which she was thrown by
my peril. and she now looked around with
dull eyes.
Scan we do nothing to save this pool
boy!" asked. "Why not say he is youl
| son2"
| "Of coorse, OF coorser shc answered, hel
face lighting up with intelligence. "Res
| aisy, darlin'," she continued; mo wan'l
/ 4.